Hatfields & McCoys’ is a ratings record

The Times Herald via AP ^ | 06/02/2012 | LYNN ELBER

[Kid Shelleen]

In the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys, the History channel proved the winner.

A miniseries about the warring families set basic cable viewing records, according to Nielsen Co. figures the channel released Thursday.

The three nights of “Hatfields & McCoys” were the top-rated entertainment telecasts ever for ad-supported basic cable, History said. Wednesday’s finale of “Hatfields & McCoys” was the most-watched of the three nights, with 14.3 million viewers. According to the History channel, that makes it the No. 1 non-sports and non-news program ever on ad-supported cable.

[cripplecreek]

That scene at the hanging really brought it all together about how long it went on and how pointless the whole thing was.

“Why are they famous?”

“For killing each other.”

[Hawk1976]

Yep, pure hatred. It hollows out a soul. It ultimately takes from the holder everything that they hold dear.

I think Johnse should have taken Roseanna and left. I couldn’t help but think him a coward after the scene where it was clear he was choosing family over his kid’s mother.

[KC_Lion]

And the series suggested that Randall McCoy died in a house fire.

GIFSoup

SYMBOLISM!!!!

You know because Randall was the more religious of the two.

[Red_Devil 232]

The replay is on tonight it started at 6 central. Part two on now. Part three next. William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield lived to 81 and was well off.

[STD]

It was all crap

[sauropod]

I agree. It was a good show. I’ll probably buy the DVD.

[StormEye]

"A miniseries about the warring families set basic cable viewing records, according to Nielsen Co. figures the channel released Thursday."

So, I guess people can expect the other networks to create feuding hillbilly shows in attempt to copy the success of this series? Maybe even a "Beverly Hillbillies in the 21st Century" sitcom?

[MAexile]

I enjoyed it. Even Mrs. MAExile enjoyed enjoyed it. (That’s saying something.)

I didn’t even have to duct tape a 2x4 over Kevin Costner to improve the acting.

[mylife]

Powers Booth was excellent as Judge Hatfield
Ronan Vibert was excellent as Perry Cline

[cripplecreek]

I don’t detect bias on the HC, perhaps I’m naive, but I just don’t see it.

One deviation from history that was part artistic license and I suspect part bias was the first killing. From what I've read Asa McCoy wasn't killed at a still. The history I read was that he was hiding in a cave and Vance followed the slave who was feeding McCoy.

It brings up one of those historical stumbles that history doesn't like. Asa McCoy fought on the union side in the civil war yet still owned a slave.

[KC_Lion]

Not to mention you had hangers on getting rich and famous of the feud that allowed it to continue, like Perry Cline and Bad Frank Phillips.

The scene with Randall McCoy on being interviewed on the porch and the muckraker wanted a picture of him with a gun really drove home to me how that whole thing got blown out of proportion.

That is when the became "famous for killing each other".

[mylife]

It was poignant that the Towheaded retard was the only one hung.

[saganite]

There were many feuds during that time that were more violent and with higher body counts. The thing that made this feud famous was that it involved two states and therefore the federal govt which attracted the attention of the press. History Channel did a very good job. I enjoyed it.

[mylife]

Suggested?
Heck, that’s what they portrayed.

[cripplecreek]

I Liked the Devil Anse line “I must bend because Randall McCoy cannot”.

[qam1]

It was great,

So unlike Hollywood today

1) The men actually acted like men acted back then. In too many historical movies today, the characters act like today’s 21st century metrosexuals set back in whatever time period the movie is set.

2) No token ultra moral black guy to consistently point out how evil and stupid the white male characters are behaving.

3) The women acted like women of the time. There was no modern empowered super women that seemingly infect every historical movie. I was just waiting for 79lb Rebecca or Nancy McCoy to take on multiple 250+lb Hatfields and easily beat them up, but thankfully it never happened.

[KC_Lion]

That was only because all four of his sons (and a daughter) had been murdered, his wife clubbed so hard that it damaged her for life (by the bastard that started the whole thing by murdering The McCoy Union solider) and spent the rest of his life in grieving and bitterness.

So I guess he wouldn't have been able to call off the feud.

[cripplecreek]

I liked the fact that they touched on the civil war being a lot less north vs south than we believe today. As Asa McCoy told Jim Vance, There are as many folks around here fighting for the union as for the confederacy.

Some recent family history has emerged that shows how common the mixed loyalties were. Turns out that my great grandmother’s grandfather and his brother signed up to fight for the union on the same day but the brother never returned north. Her grandfather simply said he’s still living. It appears that he went south with the union and switched sides or remained after the war.

[onona]

I thought it was very entertaining. I’ve saved it and will eventually watch it again. A tremendous tragedy.

[Bratch]

Actually, it was a cooking fire.

After the trials, Randall seemed to live a quiet life in Kentucky. He operated a ferry in Pikeville for some time. He died in 1914 from injuries he suffered after falling into a cooking fire. Once a leading player in one of history's most notorious family feuds, McCoy seemed to slip from this world without much notice. He was buried in the Dils Cemetery in Pikeville, Kentucky.

Randall McCoy-Death and Legacy